Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 27, 2009

Red Line resumes normal operations after Monday collision

Emergency hardship relief and memorial funds established for victims

FAQs related to train accident

Red Line service will return to normal on Saturday, June 27, following a fatal collision outside the Fort Totten Metrorail station on Monday, June 22.

Trains will be restricted to a maximum speed of 35 mph along the Red Line the entire day. Trains will move even slower through the area where the accident took place. Red Line trains will operate every 12 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations.

Metro safety and operations officials continue to work hand-in-hand with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the cause of the collision. Metro officials do not know the cause of the accident and are not likely to know the cause for several weeks or months as the investigation unfolds. The NTSB is the lead agency investigating the cause of the accident.

“There are no words to adequately express the depth of our sadness over this horrible tragedy,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “I offer our sympathy and prayers to the families of those who have suffered heartbreaking losses and to those who were injured. I am committed to taking every step that is necessary to make sure an incident like this never happens again.”

Metro’s Board of Directors voted Tuesday (June 23) to establish an emergency hardship relief fund of $250,000 to provide financial relief to the families of the victims of the collision, to assist with medical, funeral and other immediate expenses. Individuals seeking emergency hardship relief fund assistance and customers who were onboard one of the trains involved in the collision and are seeking to file an injury claim should call 202-962-1681.

Metro also has a standing Metro Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor employees who have died in the line of duty and assist with the education of their dependent children. Anyone interested in contributing to the fund can make their check payable to the Metro Memorial Scholarship Fund/CFNCR and send it to Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, 1201 15th Street, NW, Suite 420, Washington, D.C. 20005.

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Media contact for this news release: 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.

News release issued at 6:47 am, June 27, 2009.